Normal whine or bad bearing? ('48 SA transmission)

Sun Jun 29, 2014 12:12 pm

So, I've always wondered this. I know the gears are straight cut so they are going to be loud, but this sound seems way louder than it should. I've driven cubs, Cs, Hs, and a 140 and they all have whine but not annoyingly loud. It gets louder under load and quiets down if the tractor is moving faster than the engine (aka going down an incline) or if I push the clutch in.

What do you guys think? Is this something I should get looked at before something catastrophic happens? or is it okay? I only use this tractor for light duty. I mostly play with it and drive around. The only time it ever sees action is in the winter when I put the plow on it for snow. Its had this whine since I bought it last year (around August) and It hasn't gotten any better or worse sounding, just the same noise. I've taken the transmission cover off when I replaced the gasket and all the gears look good, nothing broken or obviously worn badly. (Of course I'm no expert) The tractor runs perfect. Since I got the new cylinder head (also rebuilt magneto myself) and I've been seafoaming it every fill up I've had no power issues or starting issues. Good throttle response, no clutch or shifting issues. Just this grinding/whining.

EDIT: also the noise doesn't change much in different gears, it gets a little louder as you move up in range, but not by much. I'm thinking that just has to do with loading in a higher gear.

Re: Normal whine or bad bearing? ('48 SA transmission)

Sun Jun 29, 2014 3:08 pm

not normal , bad bearings and maybe gears too . the straight cut gears make very little noise. When you hear { it only makes the normal farmall gear noise ] It is coming from someone tiring to sell a tractor with a bad transmission or finial. Boss

Re: Normal whine or bad bearing? ('48 SA transmission)

Sun Jun 29, 2014 11:24 pm

Could it have to do anything with the driverside bullgear being basically dry? I just remembered my pan leaks and I haven't fixed it....

Re: Normal whine or bad bearing? ('48 SA transmission)

Mon Jun 30, 2014 1:11 pm

If it does, then adding oil won't fix the problem.

When you run 'em dry long enough to develop a howl, the damage has already been done.

Re: Normal whine or bad bearing? ('48 SA transmission)

Mon Jun 30, 2014 8:13 pm

Based on a Youtube video, I would guess transmission bearings. You should have heard what the ones sound like in my white demo!

Al

Re: Normal whine or bad bearing? ('48 SA transmission)

Mon Jun 30, 2014 8:27 pm

Matt Kirsch wrote:If it does, then adding oil won't fix the problem.

When you run 'em dry long enough to develop a howl, the damage has already been done.

Figured. They're not "dry" per se, but they aren't fully lubed. I just never got around to it because I barely used the Super A for more than a total of less than an hour a week. It had the growl when I bought it tho. I do believe though that it is bearings. My next question is: is this something I should fix immediately, or with regular TLC can I live with until I'm able to tear it down?

Re: Normal whine or bad bearing? ('48 SA transmission)

Mon Jun 30, 2014 9:58 pm

havoc1482 wrote:

Matt Kirsch wrote:If it does, then adding oil won't fix the problem.

When you run 'em dry long enough to develop a howl, the damage has already been done.

Figured. They're not "dry" per se, but they aren't fully lubed. I just never got around to it because I barely used the Super A for more than a total of less than an hour a week. It had the growl when I bought it tho. I do believe though that it is bearings. My next question is: is this something I should fix immediately, or with regular TLC can I live with until I'm able to tear it down?

Plenty rolling around that sound worse. Unless you plan to plow 100 acres I would just keep the lube levels up and keep it watched. Put it on your to do list. On the final, if it has some lube it's probably not as bad as you think. Fix the leak and keep it lubed ASAP.

Al

Re: Normal whine or bad bearing? ('48 SA transmission)

Wed Jul 02, 2014 9:57 am

watch this video......this is a loud worn transmission. The 1st, 2nd, and Reverse gear are making the "Normal Farmall Noise" as most would say. The 3rd and 4th gears are Growling BAD. The "normal Farmall noise" isn't necessarily normal, but what most of them sound like now with the age that is on them. I have had Super A tractors and 140 tractors with Whisper Quiet Transmissions. And as you can see, I've had Super A and 140 tractors with worn out transmissions. I really don't know how to pin-point the issue with them like the one in the video, but it seems to me that since it is only certain gears that are LOUD then it is the gears that are worn, not the bearings. But in reality, probably a combination of all.